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(James May) : May selected the Mercedes because it was a vehicle "Africa favored and loved". Known for its durability and old-school German engineering, it quietly completed the journey with minimal issues compared to the others. 1981 Lancia Beta Coupé

Silence.

(Jeremy Clarkson) : Clarkson chose the Lancia based on the brand's rally heritage. It was the most unreliable vehicle of the trio, suffering from broken dials, failed components, and frequent starting issues that famously caused "African Stig" to walk away from it during a lap test. The Back-Up Car top gear botswana cars

But the true stars of that 2007 episode weren't the presenters—they were the three rolling wrecks they bought for £1,500 each. The —a Lancia Beta Coupe, an Opel Kadett, and a Mercedes-Benz 230E—have since achieved mythological status. This article explores why these specific cars were chosen, how they survived (or didn’t), and where they are today. (James May) : May selected the Mercedes because

, this small car became the breakout star of the episode. Hammond famously fell in love with it, naming it "Oliver." Unlike the other cars, Hammond shipped Oliver back to the UK (Jeremy Clarkson) : Clarkson chose the Lancia based